Cerebellum and detection of sequences, from perception to cognition.
The idea that cerebellar processing is required in a variety of cognitive functions is well accepted in the neuroscience community. Nevertheless, the definition of its role in the different cognitive domains remains rather elusive. Current data on perceptual and cognitive processing are reviewed with special emphasis on cerebellar sequencing properties. Evidences, obtained by neurophysiological and neuropsychological lesion studies, converge in highlighting comparison of temporal and spatial information for sequence detection as the key stone of cerebellar functioning across modalities. The hypothesis that sequence detection might represent the main contribution of cerebellar physiology to brain functioning is presented and the possible clinical significance in cerebellar-related diseases discussed.
Molinari
Marco
M
Experimental Neurorehabilitation and Ataxia Labs, IRCCS Santa Lucia Foundation, Rome, Italy. m.molinari@hsantalucia.it
Chiricozzi
Francesca R
FR
Clausi
Silvia
S
Tedesco
Anna Maria
AM
De Lisa
Mariagrazia
M
Leggio
Maria G
MG
D001259:Ataxia / Q000503:physiopathology; D002531:Cerebellum / Q000502:physiology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D003071:Cognition / Q000502:physiology*; D003072:Cognition Disorders / Q000503:physiopathology; D004644:Emotions; D006801:Humans; D007360:Intelligence / Q000502:physiology; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests; D010465:Perception / Q000502:physiology*; D011340:Problem Solving; D011597:Psychomotor Performance / Q000502:physiology; D012559:Schizophrenia / Q000503:physiopathology; D013003:Somatosensory Cortex / Q000502:physiology / Q000503:physiopathology; D013028:Space Perception / Q000502:physiology; D020754:Spinocerebellar Ataxias / Q000503:physiopathology; D014888:Wechsler Scales